Socket



Aug. 27, 1929. M B. GROUT 1,726,179

SOCKET Filed Feb. 8, 1926 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN B. Gnou'r, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assieivoa To .Entreesswirciiisoaan AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS.

SOCKET.

Application filed February This invention relates to sockets and moreparticularly to sockets adapted tohreceive and support audion tubes orthe like and which are resiliently supported so as to cushion and absorbthe jars and vibrations to which tubes are commonly subjected.

It has been found very desirable to provide a. spring or cushioningineans'between a radio tube socket and its supporting base in order thatthe vibrations and sharp shocks or jars will be cushioned.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of aniinproved resiliently supported socket which. will be durable and simplein construction, cheap to manufacture, and which will provide a maximumamount of cushioning for the tube socket.

Another object of the inveiit-ion is the provision in a socket, of theabove described character, of an improved device for coinpletingelectrical connection to the terminal pin contacts of tubes associatedwith the socket.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a cone-shapedspiral spring by means of which the tube socket is resiliently supportedfrom the base to permit yielding movement in all directions.

Another feature of the invention resides in the spring contactconstructed of a punched piece of sheet metal so folded as to provide aspring contact finger for engagement with the terminal pin of the tube:and a terminal tab to which a flexible conductor may be connectedwithout the use of a soldered connection. j

-Other features and advantages will appear from time to time as thedescription of the invention progresses.

It is believed a further disclosure of the invention will be understoodmore readily from a detailed description thereof taken in connectionwith he accompanying draw- .1, 5 ings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the socket and base of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view of the underside of the base of the socket;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the cover plate at thecenter of the base removed;

8, 1926. Serial No. 86,715.

Fig. 5 is another viewj similar to Fig. 4, but showing the spiralcone-shaped or lielical spring in position;

Fig. 6 is a transverse substantially diametric section through thesocket and base;

Fig. 7 is a section through the socket and base in the region of one ofthe contact elements adapted to receive and make engagement with thecontact terminal pin of the tube, and

Fig. 8 shows the punched blank from which the contact element of thetube socket is formed.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like. reference characters in theseveral views indicate the same parts, 10 indicates the base for thesocket having the supporting lugs or legs 11 on the lower side thereof.The base will preferably be provided on the opposite sides thereof withthe openings 12 for the reception of screws by means of which the socketbase may be secured to the mounting board. The base 10 is providedcentrally thereof with a circular opening 13. l

The tube socket member 14e is substantially cylindrical, as shown inFig. l, and of a size slightly greater than thev opening 13 within base.10, and is provided with a portion 15 of reduced diameter adapted to beloosely received by the opening 13.

Positioned within the opening 13 in base 1-0., with the outer turn orloop 16 thereof i received within a circumferential 4groove .17 in thebase, is Aa spring 13. This spring 18 is Va combination of a spiral andhelical spring, decreasing diameter, as a 'helical spring, but each turnis displaced axially of the spring, as in a spiral spring. In otherwords, it is a sort of cone-shaped spiral spring. The springconstruction is clearly disclosed in Figs. 5 and G of the drawing. Thelast coil or innermost turn of the spring 18,y at the apex thereof, isformed into a projecting lug 19 which is snugly received by the openingat the center of the washer 20 of fiber or other suitable material. V

The opening 13 in the base 10 is provided, at the lower edge thereof,with a shoulder 21 adapted to receive the periphery of the disc 22 ofinsulating material. The disc 22 is provided centrally thereof with anopening through which passes the screw in. that., the :several turns areof' or bolt 23, the inner end of which is screw threaded into the socketmember 14. Positioned about the screw 23 is the disc 24, integral withwhich is the collar 25. Positioned about the screw 23, and under thehead thereof, is the iianged washer 26 which is of such a size as toprevent the head of the screw passing through the opening at the centerof the disc 22.

From the struct-ure thus far described it will readily be seen that whenscrew 23 is turned into the socket member 14, the socket member isbrought into firm engagement with the disc 20 and the spring 18 will beplaced under a slight stress. In view, however, of the fact that thescrew 23 passes loosely through the disc 22 and also through the centerof lug 24, the washer 20, and conse uently the socket member 14, arecarried reely by the final turn at the apex of the spring 18,consequently permitting a universal yielding movement of the socket andacting to substantially cushion the shocks and jars to which the tubemay be subjected.

The 'socket member 14 is provided with a plurality of openings 27adapted to receive the contact terminal pins projecting from the basesof audion tubes associated thereh. The member 14 is also provided undereach of the openings 27 u square recess 28. From an inspection of Flg.7, it will be noted that the opening 27 is at one side of the recess 28and if desired the recess 28 will be provided on one side b thereof witha substantially semi-cylindrical groove 29 in which the contact terminalpin will slide. Within each of the square recesses 28 is a contactdevice adapted to make engagement with th associated with the socket.-

The contact device of the present embodibase of the contact element,having on the tl opposite sides 32.

The contact spring along the dot-ted lines 35 to extend diagonally ofthe trough like structure, as c earl indicated in Fig. 7. Finally theterminal ta 36 will be folded at so as to occupy a position at the endof the trough, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 4. contact device, such asjust described, will be inserted in each of the recesses 28 in thesocket member so that a contact spring 34 will substantially underlieeach of the o enings 27 in the socket. Thus when a tage is with asubstantially 36 e' terminal of ay tube 34 will then be folded' t rightangles to the win" I associated with the socket 14 and the terminal pinsof the tube inserted in the openings 27, the said terminal pins willslide along the grooves 29 at the sides of the recesses 28, slightly.displacing the springs 27. Thus the springs 27 will make wipingengagement with the terminal pins and act, not only to com lete theelectrical circuit to the tube, but a so to snugly hold the tube inposition.

The base 10 is provided Aon the underside thereof with foursubstantially L-sha grooves or channels 40, within which lie theflexible conductors 4l which join each of the contact tabs 36 .to thebindlng posts 42. The binding posts 42 pass upwardly osition clampingnut 44 being provided on each binding post 42 above the flexibleconductor 41 will preferably be passed about the screw o r binding post42 and clamped between the head 45 of the screw and the base. Theopposite end of the flexible conductor will be passed about the reducedportion 46 of the terminal tab 36 andtwisted upon itself, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4. It will be noted from this figure 47 of the flexibleconductor overlies the fiat surface of the tab e erring now to Figs. 6and 7, it will be noted that the disc or washer 20 overlies the twistedportions 47 of the flexible con ductors 4l and, due to th tion betweenthe flexible conductor and the contact element carried by the tube andgreatly facilitating the assembling of the evice.

By the present invention, the socket is yieldingly supported formovement in all directions b a single resilient supporting member. A socheap and satisfactory means are provided, independent of the supportingmeans, for extendin the electrical circuits to 1e contact pins of t 1etubes.

While in the drawing, but a single form of the invention is disclosed,it is to be understood that many modifications are contemplated, both inthe means for supporting the socket and in the manner of he circuits tothe tube elements. vention should, therefore, be limited by the scope ofthe appended c aims. I

aving thus described my invention what claim is new and desire to securemy Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, an insulatingmember, a sprin having a'projectinglug secured to said insulatingmember, said spring resiliently supporting said socket from said base,said insulating member adapted to .only

engage a flexible conductor and by means of its resiliency maintain thesame in electrical connection with a contact device.

2. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, an insulatingmember secured to said socket, a spring disposed substantially centrallyof said socket and said base and having one end secured to saidinsulating member, said spring resiliently supporting said socketI fromsaid base, and said insulating member adapted to engage a flexibleconductor and by means of its resiliency maintain the saine inelectrical connection with a contact device.

3. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, an insulatingmember secured to said socket,.a single spring having a projecting lugsecured to said insulating member for resiliently supporting said socketfrom said base, said insulating member adapted to engage a flexibleconductor and by means of its resiliency maintain the same in electricalconnection with a Contact device.

4f. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, an insulatingmember secured to said socket, a single spring disposed substantiallycentrally of said socket and base and secured to the center of saidinsulating member for resiliently ,supporting said socket from saidbase, said insulating member adapted to engage a flexible conductor andby means of its resiliency maintain the same in electrical connectionwith a contact device.

5. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, a spiralspring disposed substantially centrally of said socket and vbaseresiliently supporting said socket from said base, a contact devicehaving a terminal tab, a flexible conductor joined to said tab, and aninsulating memberadapted to cooperate with said spiral'spring tomaintain saidconductor in electrical connection with said terminal tab.j,

6. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, a singlespiral spring disposed substantially centrally of said socket and baseresiliently supporting said socket from said base, a contact devicehaving a terminal tab, a flexible conductor joined to said lab, and aninsulating member adapted to cooperate with said spiral` spring tomaintain said conductor in electrical connection with said terminal tab.

T. In combination, a tube socket, a base .lor said socket, a conicalspiral spring disposed substantially centrally of said socket and base,the base of said spring being secured lo said base, the said socketbeing mounted upon an insulating member secured to the apex ot saidspring whereby said socket is resiliently supported from said base, acontact device having a terminal tab, a flexible conductorjoined to saidtab, said insulating member and said spiral spring adapted to maintainsaid conductor in electrical connection with said terminal tab.

8. In combination. a tube socket, a base for said socket, a helicalspring disposed within said base, the outer turn of said spring beingsecured to said base, the said socket beingsupported upon the inner-turnof said spring, a contact device having a terminal tab. a flexibleconductor joined to said tab, and an insulating member adapted tocooperate with said helical spring to maintain said conductor inelectrical connection with said terminal tab.

9. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, resilientmeans supporting said socket from said base, a contact device ivithinsaid socket for engaging a terminal contact pin of a tube associatedtherewith, a terminal tab. joined to said contact device, a fiexibleconductor joined to said tab and overlying a face thereof, saidsupporting means being arranged to maintain said conductor in electricalengagement With said tab.`

10. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, resilientsupporting means for said socket carried by said base, means limitingthe movement lof said socket from said base and maintaining saidresilient supporting means under compression, contact devices withinsaid socket arranged to engage the terminal contact pins of tubesassociated therewith, a yterminal tab connected to each of said contactdevices, flexible conductors, one joined to each of said tabs andoverlying a :face thereof, said supporting means being arranged toresilient-ly maintain said conductors in electrical contact with saidtabs respectively.

11. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, resilientsupporting means for said socket carried by said base, an 1nsulatingplate between said supporting4 means and said socket, means for limitingthe movement of said socket from said base and maintaining saidsupporting means under compression, contact devices -within said socketarranged to engage the terminal contact pins of tubes associated withsaid socket, a terminal tab connected to each contact device, flexibleconductors, one joined to each of said tabs, Said conductors beingrcsiliently clamped between said insulating plate and said tabsrespectively.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

MARTIN B. GROUT.

